Students With Charisma

Well, school is starting for some, and it seems that it's getting earlier every year.  I so wish the kids started school when we did, in September, so they don't have to endure those hot days that are still so apparent in summer.  Every school year I can't help but look back at my own childhood, remembering the fun moments, and especially those students who stood out from all the others.  

*There was Shannon.  Her name, in itself, was cool.  She had such a cute smile, walk, and personality.  She lived across town where we attended junior high, and it would be a very different scene that year from the local school we were used to.  All the boys liked her, and all the girls wanted to be like her.  She just had a way with people.

*Then there was John B.  He excelled in every sport he played, and he played many.  Our senior year, he got Most Athletic, an honor that was well deserved.

 

All the girls liked him, even the girls from our rival school across town.  He was just a good guy.  I seem to remember his girlfriend too; she was pretty nice.  ; )

*There was Tina.  She was a pretty thing who could get any guy she wanted.  We had the same taste in boys, and we actually had some of the same boy crushes throughout the years.  She was my best friend until high school.  She had twin sisters, so the closets in their bedrooms were filled to the brim with clothes.  Between her and her sisters' clothes, I borrowed a thing or two, and she was always generous.

*Then there was Jackie.  Just her face expressions alone were hilarious.  We were good friends for a time, and spent many hours at each other's houses.  She had step sisters, which was foreign to me at the time, and a brother who was pretty cute.  He was so shy though that I could barely get a "hi" out of him.

*There was also Morfoula.  Her name just says it all, doesn't it?  She was Greek (like "my big fat Greek wedding" Greek).  She was attractive with long brown hair and brown eyes.  When we had sleep overs at her house, her family would tease me and never hesitate to remind me that I was only part Greek, and that their family was all.  She married a Greek man (what a surprise), and I ran into her from time to time, as she lived in a big house in my hometown close to where we lived.  I also saw her regularly at the Greek festival every Spring.

These are all people I grew up with that had charisma, and often times, it's these type of students who put an unexpected zest in the school year.

Francesca started her first week of school, and I hope my little ones have an exceptional year; maybe they will have some of those charismatic students in their lives as well.  Or perhaps they will be fortunate enough to be them.

And Mrs. Jessi has already started teaching her elementary class.

Mia hasn't started yet, but this was a happy little camper when Nel took her shopping for school clothes at Target.

Nel has a little bit more of a summer break before teaching her college students.

Oh, school days....be kind to the students and teachers.  They make such an effort all year long.

Do you remember any unusually delightful students when you were in school?  I'd love to hear about it.

 

Thankful For New Appliances

Good Morning, and welcome August!

August is a good month for my family, with Mia and Charlotte's birthday and Jess' anniversary in the midst of it all.  It was also my mom and dad's anniversary.

My oven was on the brink of disaster.  It wasn't heating up, and it was just too old to get the parts to fix it, so a new stove/oven was ordered for me.  I didn't know the type or brand it would be, and I didn't ask; he just said it would be a surprise, but that he ordered the nicest one they had.  I love it! - it has a grill on the stove to make grilled cheese sandwiches and such.  New appliances are always fun to get.

And my first batch of cookies baked in the new oven.

Did your kids have fun playing with the cardboard boxes when they were little?  Such a simple thing can bring hours of joy.  My kids used to love them.  And so it goes with each generation.

Meals this week.

And I have to ask my Texas friends about these sausages.  I haven't tried them yet, so I was hoping for good reviews.

Have to always stop for red roses.

Nel made this cake for her father-in-law.  It's a Baseball inspired theme because he loves Baseball, especially the Dodgers.

Speaking of Dodgers, I came across these peanuts at the store.  No canned peanuts for me; I love the old-fashioned ones that you have to crack open.  Peanuts are packed with protein!  I tell you, the day after I ate them, I had a burst of energy.

I had a zoom chat yesterday with Nel and Jess and kids.  We talked about school starting, new school clothes, and latest happenings.  Nel and Jess remember having at least one week of new school clothes at the beginning of each school year.  The kids were scrunching their cheeks and making faces and cracking me up.  Once I start laughing with them, it's hard to stop.  Nel showed me her new Disney cup.

And she sent over a video of her and Mia baking a peach pie.  When she lived in Georgia, she loved baking those peach pies, as it is widely known as the "Peach State." 🍑  *these aren't videos, just pictures.

Do you know that Georgia has around 70 roads in the state named after peaches?  Peachtree Street is one of them.

Well, we are supposed to have some cooler days here in August.  We'll see.  ; )  My heart is looking forward to Fall, and we usually get rain at that time.

 

The City And All Its Perks

 Into the city I went last week to celebrate my son's birthday, and it was a fun-filled day.  We left very early in the morning, so the first stop was to get breakfast at the quaint cafe, which always serves homemade meals, and has a big bakery section.  I ordered a chocolate croissant with a cup of coffee.  It was a mega shopping day, and I got to visit all the places that I can never get to.....Target, Hobby Lobby, JC Penney, Home Goods, Michael's, and World Market.  Everything is Fall out there right now, with Hobby Lobby being my favorite this time.  I got a little wooden fox there that you will see along with the pics.  And I couldn't resist the softest cream colored pumpkin at Home Goods that I'll show you when we get closer to the Fall season.  Of course, while I was shopping at Home Goods, my son went over to Sprouts and enjoyed their variety of Sushi.  We watched the new movie, Jurassic World Rebirth.  The theatre is different now, and you have to pick your seats when paying.  As always, I indulged in popcorn with extra butter.  There's nothing like theatre popcorn.  It was an exciting movie, with some scenes leaving you on the edge of your seat.  Scarlett Johansson is such a good actress, and it was entertaining.  We tried a new Mexican Restaurant, which was really good.  The tacos and salsa had a sweetness to it, which was different.  And German chocolate cake for dessert.  The drive home was about 50 minutes, but it seemed to go by quickly.  A day in the city, and we had a blast.

  

Sweet Summer Days

Well, I often talk about my daughters here in this space, cause we share a blog, but I don't mention my son that often, and since this is his Birthday week, I thought I'd share a thing or two.  He's not just my son, we've always been very close friends.

  For those that are mothers to a son, you will know when I say that they are very different than raising daughters - in challenging ways and wonderfully delightful ways, just different.  And I'm sure you've heard about the bond between a mother and son.  He's so busy working and going to school, yet he always makes time for his mom.  I often share the meals that he whips up; he's a good cook, and he loves cajun food.  I hope this birthday week is special for him.  Happy Birthday, my son.  

July has always been a month full to the brim, and there are actually four July birthdays in my family (Nel, my son, my mother-in-law, and my son-in-law). 

I bought some more cherries at the store.  They were a bit pricey, but take a look at the size of them!

And if that wasn't enough, I picked up a cherry pie in the bakery section.  It was incredible, and can you tell cherries are my favorite fruit?

When I saw these goblets, I loved the design, the size, everything about them.  They look vintage to me.  You can use them for wine, but I put a votive candle in it instead, and it looks so pretty.

I like them so much, that I went back and got another.

My brother-in-law came in, and stopped by for a visit.  He had some things to do in town first, and brought me back some rocky road ice cream, which is one of my favs.  We had a nice talk over a hot cup of coffee and a big piece of cherry pie.

And speaking of Sons on here today, my mom had 3 sons, and my mother-in-law had 7! Isn't that amazing?

*Norman Rockwell

We've had some pretty warm summer days last week, so getting take-out was a pleasure one night.

Jess found a peaceful place to visit right in her town..... the beautiful Gardens.  It's pretty small and walkable, and they even have picnic tables to eat and rest.

   They are looking so intensely at this strange animal in front of them.

A happy week to you.